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Costs too much for what it is

The Wii Classic controller allows you to step back in time and play games the old fashioned way. It does not use the motion sensing ability of the wii so no jiggling around is needed! Some of the new Wii games will specify on the back whether you can use the controller to play their game or not but many of the platform games available on the Wii shop need are suitable for the controller.

==Price and availability==This controller is available from most gaming shops and online. I bought mine from Amazon.co.uk for around 12 pounds.

==Description==The pad comes in white so it fits in with the colour scheme of the machine. There is a short wire that connects the controller to the wii remote which makes the wii controller 'wireless.' It is great that the controller does not need plugging straight into the Wii but it is really annoying that it still needs plugging into the Wii remote in order for it to function. They could have splashed out on a bit of extra technology and make it completely wireless. The layout of the controller is very similar to that of the old Nintendo controllers. It has two small analogue sticks, an 'a' and 'b' action button, a diagonal 'D' pad, a 'home' button, a + and - button, and four trigger buttons on the top of the control; two on the left and then two on the right.

==Game play==The controller is easy to hold, the contours of the pad fit neatly in to your hands and the buttons are easy to press and control. There is a lot of clicking from the buttons which reminds me of my old gaming system from when I was younger. Perhaps these will become more fluid and less clicky the more time goes on but at the minute neither myself nor my boyfriend play with the controller enough to get the best out of it. We bought it for use with a couple of downloaded games and once played a few times the novelty of the controller wore off and we favoured the more modern sensory games that could only be played with the remotes.

==Overall==I think that the price for this controller is far too high and Nintendo could have set it a lot lower and make it more affordable. There is nothing special about it; it's not even wireless! If you really want a controller for your Wii then have a look for a second hand one on eBay, it is not with paying full price for.

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A must-buy for Virtual Console fans, but a great alternative controller for current games too.

The Wii's controller is pretty good for the motion-heavy games in the console's library. However, the Wiimote's position of buttons make it awkward to play games the "old-fashioned way", especially if, like myself, you're looking to buy retro games off the Virtual Console and more buttons and a familiar style of playing is needed. Well this is where Nintendo's Classic Controller comes in. I bought this for £14.99 from GAME though its RRP is £15.99 according to Amazon. To be honest prices on the internet still seem to be around this price, so it's best buying it off eBay.

The Classic Controller is designed in a similar fashion to various pads, only coloured a clear white to match other Wii accessories: directional pad, two joysticks (one used for movement, the other's use will vary depending on the game), four buttons to the right (a, b, x, y), the Home button in the middle with '+' and '-' to its left and right, and four shoulder buttons across the top. It came in a rather plain box that had the pad and one of those Health and Safety leaflets that came bundled with the console except specific to this controller. You use it by connecting the cable with the bottom of the Wiimote where the nunchuck would plug in, meaning that it is still a wireless connection.

I enjoy using the classic controller when I need to. It is easy to grip in both hands, being much lighter and flatter than Gamecube or Playstation controllers, and the buttons are well placed within easy reach of your fingers. Since it doesn't rely on motion control it is excellent for both retro games and recent titles where use of the classic controller is optional but perhaps more efficient for older players who want to play Mario Kart Wii old school! (Note that only some Wii games outside of Virtual Console are classic controller compatible- check the back of the box.)

I think the classic controller is a nifty purchase for anyone who doesn't want to depend on the Wiimote/nunchuck combo all the time and want an alternative for certain genres of games (fighting, action etc.). However, those who own a GameCube controller already will find this a redundant purchase since the former works in the same way and will be compatible with any game the classic controller is, so don't bother forking out your money. Furthermore it is still quite expensive as Wii accessories go especially given this has been around for four years now. Otherwise this is certainly worth considering for those who want to play the Wii like they do their PS3 or 360.

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Recommend for virtual console gamers

The nintendo wii classic controller is a different type of controller for the wii that doesn't use the motion sensing ability of the wii. This control is mainly designed for playing the old games (such as games from the nintendo 64) that can be brought from the wii shop. It can however be used with some new wii games if the game allows it.

The design is nice and simple and is in line with the other designs of the wii and its accessories. It is completely white and has curved edges to the left and right. It has a diagonal d pad, as well as 2 analogue sticks, a home button as on the main wii controls, a + and - button, and 4 trigger buttons on the top of the control (2 on left, 2 on right), as well as the usual action buttons such as a and b.

It is much easier to hold than previous nintendo controllers, such as on the nintendo 64 and gamecube that were quite uncomfortable to hold.

The classic controller makes playing old games from the virtual console much more enjoyable. The old games weren't design to be playing with the wii controls, and this classic controller is much more in line with the controls of the old consoles, although better designed so that it is much comfortable to hold.Responsiveness from the control to the wii is very good and actions happen on screen as you say to do so via the controller.

The classic controller is connected to the motion sensing wii remote by a short cable, which allows it to be played wireless. This is a bit annoying having to have it connected to the wii remote, and would have been nice if it could be wireless with the need for that.

The buttons are easy to press, although at first they are a bit loud, as they make a clicky noise when you press them, but this soon goes as you ware to buttons in, and they work really well.

The price from amazon for this is £11.99, and is quite a good price for what it is. If you don't play many games on the virtual console then I don't think it is worth buying, but if you play them a lot that this is definitely worth a purchase.

Overall I think this is a great product, as it makes playing the old games much more enjoyable, as it is more like the way they were meant to be played. It is a good price and works really well, would recommend this product if you play a lot of virtual console games.

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I have to say the makers at Nintendo are more than impressive at their money making skills. With the Wii not only did they bring out lots of accessories to go with it but they also came up with the idea that different games would require different controllers - balance board, nunchuk, Wii remote...And then they brought out the classic controller for the Wii.

The classic controller is just as it says it is - a classic controller. Borrowing from the old school idea this Wii remote is hand held and has a wire to connect it. It borrows elements from the Wii's predecessors such as NES, Super NES, and N64. Never fear though this controller does not plug into the Wii itself restricting where you can go and sit but it connects to the Wii remote itself and it runs off of the power supply in the Wii remote. If your batteries have moved on to battery heaven then you will not be able to use the classic controller until you have got some more.

The classic controller is a long oval type of shape. It is again in the iconic white of the Wii and has a shiny element to its hard plastic. It has all the same buttons as the Wii remote but with a different layout than the Wii remote. It is easy to hold and lightweight. It is comfortable to hold in your hands. The classic controller really does go back to the old school as this controller has no motion sensors of any type.

To be honest you will only need the classic controller if you are going to download and play the some of the older platform games from Super Nintendo such as Mario Smash Bros as you can play those games with more accuracy than you do with the Wii remote. I cannot see it being a necessary accessory if you are just going to play current Wii games.

It is a good idea for the retro games but I do think Nintendo just brought it out as another clever way to make a little bit more money. If you do purchase one, you can buy them from Amazon for £11.99 like we did.

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A must have for someone who likes the old games

With the Nintendo Wii being released they change the whole concept of what you would expect the game to be like. My thoughts initially were that I was looking forward to the new things they can do with the console. When you play different games however you do at times miss the simple control that you are so used to. Nintendo did the right thing in bringing out this Classic controller which you can use on the Wii.

Price

The price for this controller is now on amazon for £11.99, by having this controller you can do the things you used to be able to do aswell as the new things you can do on the Wii. I remember paying more than the £11.99 that it is now but I would recommend that if you are an old school gamer this would definitely be something that would benefit you.

Description

The controller itself is very simple even though it does have two analog sticks which seem to be just a tad bigger than what you would of wanted on the controller. The controller is also pretty small so it will fit nicely into your hands. You do have to remember however that this can not be used on every game on the Wii, I use this for the games which you can buy on the Wii store. Them games on their tend to be the more classic games which I do also enjoy.

Usability

I found that using the controller is very simple, I have heard people saying that it is pretty difficult but I really don't understand this at all. It is not like a playstation or xbox controller but then again you wouldn't expect it to be. The games that you can play with this controller simply do not need all types of different buttons. I found it sat very nicely in my hands and I felt no discomfort with it at all. The controller also offers much better accuracy and speed than you would of expected aswell. With the Wii the accuracy tends to go off at times but with this control whenever I used it I got perfect results with it which was pleasing.

Overall

Overall I do not think that this controller will be for everyone, however if you are an old school games like msyelf who loves playing the classics then I would recommend you to think about making the purchase. Even though the games are limited for the price that it is I do believe that it is worth the money. I was happy that this was on the market because it meant I could change from playing the same Wii because that does tend to get a bit boring and you want to mix it up a little bit.

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A brilliant edition to the Wii

I purchased this as a back up option for games where the swinging interactive wii controller just doesn't do the game justice (Football games on the Wii, i'm particularly thinking of you here).

This is a traditional controller which is still wireless because you actually plug the wire into the wii control wand rather than the console. It is that simple so setting it up takes seconds rather than minutes.

For me it is purely for traditional computer games where you want a keypad, buttons and a couple of fingersticks, the controller is white and oval shaped, it doesn't look as ergonomic as something like the Xbox 360 controller and does look a bit cheap.

I have had no issues with responsiveness, it is reliable and has made playing games even more fun for me.

The controller consists of two control sticks, a keypad on the ledt and the traditional 4 buttons on the right. It allows you to play wii games in a more conventional way, and whilst there aren't too many wii games set up to be played conventionally, it really does add value to the console and make it more than simply a novelty console to show off to friends.

The controller is responsive and it is perfect for the virtual console (Classic Nintendo games you can download). In many ways the controller reminds me of the controls of old games like Donkey Kong, so it is absolutely perfect for these button pressing classics. It only costs £11.99 on Amazon and is well worth it, for the ease of use, its wireless control method and because it really does make the Wii into something else altogether, allowing you to play maddeningly addictive old classics with a perfectly formulated controller.

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The Wii Classic controller is a great bit of kit, offering an extra way to enjoy all your Wii games!

The Ninteno Wii classic controller adds a new dimension to playing the Wii. It is true that the concept of this console is to be novel and to differentiate itself from the Playstations and the Xboxes. It is not true, however, to say that releasing the classic controller is a step backwards.

Many people playing earlier Nintendo consoles will welcome this controller as it allows them to play games they are familiar with with the kit that they are also familiar with. It is not compulsory to play Mario Kart with the classic controller as opposed to a wheel, but for those who would appreciate the opportunity to do so, the controller is there.

The other very useful reason why this controller is useful is because it is also aimed at the gamer enthusiast market. In many games, a lot more fun could be had when playing with the wiimote & nunchuk as the controls are novel and playing games is more fun when you swing your arms around on the sofa. The controller allows the enthusiast to attempt to be more precise in playing games and allows for easier accessibility to buttons. This means that in the more technical games, it can often be easier to set personal best results or compete online when playing with the controller instead of the original controls.

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One to avoid

The Nintendo Wii's revolutionary controllers with their motion sensing capabilities changed the way games were played on the system but to cater for those gamers who preferred the classic style of controller Nintendo launched this, The Wii Classic Controller. Not only did it offer and alternative method of control on SOME games for those who didn't like the thought of waving arms around to participate, but it also enabled Wii owners too play the classic titles on the Wii store using the traditional method of control. Somehow playing Mario Bro's and such like from the Snes days wouldn't seem right with a Wii mote now would it?

The controller certainly has its roots in the retro Nintendo consoles of the late 80's and early nineties. Its very very light and very small which can cause problems. I think its too small personally and hard to grip at times especially considering the awkward way it attaches to the Wii mote which Ill explain shortly.

I didn't do my research before buying this though and thought it was a stand alone separate controller. I bought two thinking these two would go with my Wii motes and we could have four player games....dont fall into this trap. The Classic controller sadly requires a Wii mote to use, plugging in where the nun chuck would. Therefore it uses those batteries, and drains them just as fast. It, as you can imagine makes it very awkward to play as you need the light Wii mote somewhere where you can play without wires in the way and also where you aren't going to pull it off. Annoying design, should have had usb connectivity or been able to be plugged into the Gamecube controller ports.

There are two very awkwardly placed analogue sticks which are so annoying to get to it makes it a far less enjoyable experience than using the d pad. The Pad doesn't feel comfortable in hand it is fiddly to get to the buttons and use the triggers whilst using the sticks and it feels so poorly designed I am shocked as Nintendo also usually excel in this area.

Its not compatible for all games either, and is most used for the classic titles on the Wii store. But not everyone plays these, buys then and even if you do the Wii Mote on the side is far easier and better to use. Even if you have an old Gamecube controller its better.

Its said that games companies make most money from additional hardware like this and priced at about £10-£15 this simply isn't worth it. It doesn't enhance gaming experience at all and is annoying and hard to use. Couple with the fact it needs plugged into the Wii mote, which is better to use on its side than this controller, then this is definitely a product to avoid.

Also on CIAO

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Overall, an essential item if you have retro games

Nintendo really knew what they were doing when they brought out their Nintendo Will, as the different types of games they have released for the console require different controllers. From Wii remote to balance board there are a number out there that you need to buy to play certain games effectively. We bought this Nintendo Wii Classic controller for around £12 earlier this year as another extra for our Wii console.

This classic controller is an accessory that you need primarily to play some older style platform games that you can download on to your Wii like old Super Nintendo games you used to play. It is different to the Will remote as it has no sensor that registers movement. It is more similar to the Playstation type controllers.

The controller we bought is the same as the Wii remote in terms of colour and is made with white plastic with the directional controls on the left and the action buttons on the right with analog controls in the centre. It is easy to use and comfortable to hold which is all important.

The disadvantage of these controllers is that they plug into the back of the Wii remote and rely on this device to be able to use it. Therefore, unfortunately if your Will remote has run ojt of batteries then you won't be able to use this Wii classic controller.

It is a decent idea for playing retro games on the Nintendo Will, and although it's just another marketing tool to make more money it is an essential item to anyone who owns these types of games on the Wii console.

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A nice little controller that allows you to play virtual console games but could be better

The nintendo wii classic controller is an extra accessory for the nintendo wii console. The classic controller allows you to play the classic retro games you have downloaded from the virtual console on the wii shop channel. Without this accessory you won't be able to play any snes, N64 games and since one of the best things about the wii is the vast amount of classic retro games avaliable to download this makes this accessory a must have. The classic contoller can also act as just a normal contoller for some games for example: Super mario kart wii, super smash bros brawl and others!

The classic contoller to me feels like a super nintendo controller just with a few more buttons, which is a good thing its designed to be pretty basic because most of the time thats what you will be using it for basic (but good) retro games. Of course as you can see they have added two analog thumb sticks for the 3D games you will play, which makes playing 3D games a whole lot easier than using the directional pad. The only bad points about the classic controller are the buttons sometimes seem a bit close together (usually its the analog sticks that get in the way when your trying to push other buttons and because the controller itself is quite small with all those buttons on it) The other bad point is the classic controller has to be plugged into the bottom of the wii remote to use it (just like the nunchuck controller) so instead of it having its own wireless capabilities, it has to rely on the wii remotes which means if you don't have any batteries for your wii remote or your wii remote is broke you can't use the classic controller either.

But all in all it is a decent controller to play retro games on, a bit harder to play wii games with but mostly you will be using it for retro games. But the fact still remains if you don't have this controller you can't play some of the best retro titles realised for the virtual console which makes this item a must have!!

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15 quid..

The classic controller is a Wii accessory designed to be used mainly with the Wii's Virtual Console. Unlike the Wii Remote it has no motion sensing capability and is what you might call a traditional controller not too dissimilar to the PS3 Sixaxis controller in design and function.

As I mentioned, it's really for the older games that you download through your Wii that of course predated the host console. I bought it so that I could enjoy Super Nintendo games as the D-Pad on the GameCube pad that is also compatible is so small and difficult to reach and its shape is so similar that it feels like a trip down memory lane.

The Classic Controller is essential for downloaded N64 games unless you have an old GameCube controller kicking around which I feel is actually a better fit for those games as it has a more comfortable position for the left stick; the Classic as I said is what I use for SNES games but I think i'm probably in the minority when I say that i'm a regular downloader which to me really limits the potential audience of this accessory. There are some Wii titles that allow the use of the Classic controller like Smash Bros. Brawl but they are few and far between and I think the way that these are widely available on the high street could be misleading to consumers who think they can substitute their Wii Remote for this.

This is impossible actually because the controller has no power source and has to be plugged into the bottom of your Wiimote to allow it to communicate with your console which can prove awkward during more energetic sessions of Mario Kart. The upside of this is that the Classic Controller is significantly cheaper than the Wiimote and can be picked up for under £20 and makes up part of HMV's 2 for £30 promotion.

A newer black Classic has been released alongside this one with the main difference being the addition of prongs to the left and right of the handset that makes it much more comfortable to grip, particularly if you've got larger hands and like all the other black Wii accessories looks a lot more stylish.

The Classic controller I feel is an accessory tasked with doing a lot of things but not really mastering any of them. It has limited use as a Wii controller. The sticks are in the wrong place for N64 games and NES games are fine with the Wiimote turned sideways. So, it remains my choice for SNES titles but I feel Nintendo would have been much better off rereleasing the original controllers for their older systems to connect in the same way which would help by not misleading customers and would be a better fit for their fantastic back catalogue of games.

I know that such an accessory was released in Japan but it's baffling how Nintendo haven't taken up this opportunity to make this extra money. For now i'll stick with my Classic but i'll be checking out eBay to import one of their Classic SNES pads which i'm sure i'll pay a fortune for.

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A good solution to the Wiimote for retro Nintendo gaming.

The Nintendo Wii Classic controller is an addon for the Wii Remote, It is essentially wireless, and is designed specifically for the classic games on the Virtual Console channel, and WiiWare.

Its designed to mirror the layout of the original SNES, (despite having aspects of the NES and N64) and does so quite adequately. Its also fairly ergonomic, comfortable and easy to handle. The buttons never stick and are well-placed. The six axis analog buttons are responsive and fun to use too too. Its robust and reliable, but really quite expensive unless you can get one for second hand price. That is to say, its not worth paying fifteen pounds for what is essentially a SNES controller.

Although it hasn't got a great deal of gaming applications, its worth mentioning that the Wii is a developing platform and probably will have in the future. At the moment its only really any good for the likes of Mario Kart, which can use the Wii Wheel anyway, although this is much simpler to use.

This is mostly aimed at people who use the Wii primarily for playing old school Nintendo / Gamecube games and are fed up of constantly shaking the remote. This is an old-school controller that isn't worth paying full price for, since re-releasing it for this kind of money wasn't really fair. It might be a good idea to go for a third party model instead, since, in my experience they tend to be just as good and much cheaper, especially since this device has a particularly specific design.

Its reliable, easy to use and easy to install, with its simple plug and play design. If you're really into retro Nintendo gaming, this is a definite must-have for you, since the Wii is a very back compatible console with many retro ports being uploaded to WiiWare Wii stores each day. Otherwise its not really worth the cash, well-conceived and well-designed as it may be.

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It makes interacting with the Wii fun

The Wii classic controller is obviously different to others that have recently been brought out and also to the ones in the past.

What is the main difference? Well, it's the fact it can be moved around. This goal is well served by the strap that's provided as well as the buttons which are easily accessible on the controller. It is easy to use in that sense.

I think the main disadvantage however is when it comes to plugging the classic controller into the unclassic extra hardware control devices such as the wheel, or the instruments in rock band. For that purpose it can be awkward when in a hurry.

The rather odd shaped size does give it a certain awe of wonder and that supplies adequate assurance of the entertainment side of the Wii.

Overall thought, it is a refreshing way to control video games - and something which aptly fits the Wii's main goal, to be fun.

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Ideal for younger Wii fans

One of the big draws to us buying a Wii was for our daughter to use it. She loves her DS and we saw this as a natural progression for her and we liked the fact that there are a lot of physical games which she would enjoy and would be another activity for her.

One of her favourite games on her DS was Mario Kart and she has become pretty good at it so when we saw they had launched a Wii version with the steering wheels we bought it for her.

The steering wheels are sensitive and quite tricky to master and to be honest it was beyond her years. I mooched online and found the classic controller which you can use on the Wii. It seemed perfect as it was basically the same controls she was used to on her DS.

I bought it from Argos for £14.99 but they are available at the majority of the shops which stock the Wii. It simply replaces your Wii control, you attach it to the main controller and away you go.

It has the standard A-D buttons and the cross arrow cursor but it also has two joysticks so is ideal for anyone who prefers DS, Gameboy, Playstation etc controls to the slightly trickier Wii controllers.

She immediately found this much simpler to use and means she can now play the game.

I think this controller is reasonably priced and ideal for those who are younger or those who just don't like the Wii controls.

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The controller is a nice addition to the wii family of products because it serves the purpose of general gaming that the wii remote cannot suffice. It has all the buttons the gamecube controller has but shares the theme of wiis wii mote.

The design of the controller gives you that old fassion super nintendo look but is way more comfortable. However i just dont know why they didnt just re launch the gamecube controllers with the new wii theme instead of designing a new controller. The game cube controllers are far more comfortable. This may be down to nintendo wanting to sell more products instead of releasing a product that could be recycled for wii use instead of re-purchased.I would advise people to buy a Game cube controller over this, but if you must have it there is not harm in it, its down to preference really, but if you have a game cube controller, then you should use it by all means